Rhys Jones: Four more arrested

Aug 31 2007

A further four people have been detained on suspicion of the murder of 11-year-old Liverpool boy Rhys Jones, police said.

The youngster was shot in the neck last week in the car park of the Fir Tree pub as he walked home from football practice in Croxteth.

Two men, aged 20 and 24, and two boys, aged 17 and 16, all from the Liverpool area, have now been detained and will be questioned by Merseyside Police later.

Merseyside Police described the arrests as “new”, bringing the total number of people held in the investigation to 15.

Earlier, detectives investigating Rhys’s murder urged a mystery caller to get in touch with them.

Police said a witness who called the Crimestoppers hotline on August 24 should ring officers trying to piece together the circumstances of the fatal shooting.

The caller reported seeing a male on a mobile phone, a spokesman said, describing the information as “significant”.

Detective Superintendent Dave Kelly said: “I would appeal for this person to make direct contact with me.

“The information from Crimestoppers was significant but we now need to speak to the caller directly.”

Police have already arrested 11 teenagers in connection with the killing. Seven have been released on police bail and four released without charge.